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Connecticut Child Care Emergency Preparedness Manual

September 2019

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

450 Columbus Boulevard

Hartford, CT 06103

860-500-4412

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This document shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the

Office of Early Childhood and an ad hoc committee of the

Connecticut Early Childhood Cabinet (SAC).

Record of changes:

Date of Change Updated Section(s) Authorized signature

This document is available on the website for the Connecticut

Office of Early Childhood, in the child care licensing section,

under the subsection for Emergency Planning and Response.

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Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………..4

Background and Scope of Plan…………………………………………….7

Assumptions……………………………………………………………………….9

Coordination and Collaboration…………………………………………10

Communication………………………………………………………………….12

Family Assistance and Reunification…………………………………..14

Long- and Short-Term Recovery………………………………………….15

Temporary Child Care Services……………………………………………16

Resources for Providers………………………………………………………17

References………………………………………………………………………….18

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Introduction

This plan serves as a supplement to the State of Connecticut’s State Response Framework (SRF), the

purpose of which is “to describe the interaction of state government with local, federal and tribal

governments, non-governmental response organizations and other private sector partners, the media

and the public in implementing emergency response and recovery functions in times of crisis. In

general, the Framework describes how the State of Connecticut and its partners will work together to

support local governments and their residents in responding to disasters and emergencies1.” To learn

more about the SRF and the CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP),

Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) please visit

https://portal.ct.gov/demhs.

Preparedness, response and recovery planning within the child care community is essential to ensuring the safety of children, their child care providers, and the greater community. Child care programs provide a foundation for young children’s physical, emotional and cognitive well‐being, and are essential to community recovery in the aftermath of an emergency. The inability of child care facilities to re‐open following an emergency can force families to leave children unaccompanied or in unsafe, informal care, increasing their risk of injury or abuse while parents seek recovery assistance. Child care is essential to jump‐starting local economies following an emergency. A reliable workforce needs safe, secure child care for employees to resume work.

This plan provides an all-hazards approach to planning for the needs of children who are cared for in licensed home-based and center-based settings, and those who are supported by funding through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) through the State of Connecticut subsidy program called Care 4 Kids.

Connecticut’s effort to plan for and address the needs of children in emergencies is governed by a number of statutes and regulations. Among the most influential requirements, An Act Concerning Children Affected by Disaster and Terrorism, Public Act 11‐66, codified in Connecticut General Statutes, Section 28-1l, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection is required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on planning and activities for children and youth as part of homeland preparedness and emergency response planning for natural disasters, man-made disasters and terrorism. The report must include provisions that address: (1) the distinct health needs of children for purposes of bioterrorism and other public health emergency preparedness, (2) public education and communications for families concerning public safety issues relating to disasters and terrorism, (3) training in safety and security measures and multi-hazard response plans for child care providers, school personnel and personnel in before and after school programs, family homeless shelters, summer camps, and juvenile justice system facilities, (4) coordination of school health and mental health strategies, and

1 STATE RESPONSE FRAMEWORK (SRF), Version 4.1 September 2014. Prepared by Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) in partnership with other CT State Agencies and Non‐Governmental Organizations involved in Emergency Preparedness and Response Activities in the State of Connecticut. Revision date September 24, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2019.

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(5) amendments to the state civil preparedness plan and program made pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 28-5(c). The focus of this plan is on addressing the response plans for licensed childcare providers, licensed youth camps, and other related programs under the direction of the state of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. The Department of Public Health, as the lead public health (Emergency Support Function (ESF)-8) agency under the SRF, is responsible for coordinating the development of broad statewide plans that address the special healthcare needs of children including family assistance centers, emergency medical services for children, mental and behavioral health needs of children and other public health preparedness plans specific to pediatric populations.

The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), is responsible for a coordinated and integrated program of emergency management and homeland security. At the direction of the DESPP Commissioner, DEMHS convenes the Statewide Emergency Management and Homeland Security Advisory Council. One of the key committees of the Advisory Council is the Child Emergency Preparedness Committee (CEPC), with established governance to define its purpose, goals, and membership. The CEPC falls within ESF 5, Emergency Management, under the National Incident Management System or NIMS.

This plan was developed to guide the actions of the Office of Early Childhood during times of emergency, and to identify the resources and supports available to providers of child care services in the event of an emergency. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Information Memorandum 2017-01, served as the guide to the plan. A stakeholder workgroup including representatives from the State Advisory Committee (the Early Childhood Cabinet), the Child Emergency Preparedness Committee, and early childhood service providers convened to provide input and feedback. The Office of Early Childhood shall be responsible for the periodic updating of this document with input from a similarly representative group.

The plan was reviewed by State Agencies and organizations named within the document, as well as

other stakeholders who serve the early childhood community.

These abbreviations are used throughout this document and have meaning as follows:

CCDF Child Care and Development Fund, the federal funding provided to the Office of Early Childhood

to support child care services and supports, including the Connecticut subsidy program called Care 4

Kids

CEPC Child Emergency Preparedness Committee, a subcommittee of the Statewide Emergency

Management and Homeland Security Advisory Council

DEMHS CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the division of DESPP

responsible for the coordinated, integrated program for statewide emergency management and

homeland security.

DESPP CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the state agency responsible for

protecting and improving the quality of life for citizens by providing a broad range of public safety

services, training, regulatory guidance and scientific services

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ESF Emergency Support Function, a category of disaster response or recovery operations

NIMS National Incident Management System, a system that includes a standardized approach to incident management and response, training, credentialing, communications, equipment, and technologies SEOC State Emergency Operation Center, the State’s coordination center for emergency services during any major emergency affecting the State of Connecticut

SRF State Response Framework, describes the interaction of state government with local, federal

and tribal governments, non-governmental response organizations and other private sector partners,

the media and the public in implementing emergency response and recovery functions in times of crisis

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Background and Scope of Plan

The Reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act in 2014 requires Lead

Agencies to develop and maintain a comprehensive Statewide Child Care Emergency Plan to address the

needs of children in child care before, during and after a Governor-declared state of emergency2. The

Act declares that the State’s Child Care Emergency Plan must include:

o Coordinating and collaborating with key partners;

o Guidelines for continuation of child care subsidies and services;

o Coordination of post-disaster recovery of child care services; and

o Requirements for CCDF providers and other child care providers.

The State of CT addresses each of these planning aspects as follows:

Coordinating and collaborating with key partners: The OEC works in collaboration with DESPP/DEMHS

to plan for and respond to emergencies in preparedness exercises; co-chairs with DEMHS the Child

Emergency Preparedness Committee, and within the CEPC and across exercises and actual events works

with state agency partners and other stakeholders to advance preparedness for children. The OEC also

engaged the Department of Public Health in the development of this plan to ensure coordination with

broader statewide plans that address the special needs of child populations, and responsibilities fulfilled

by public health and healthcare systems in response to disasters and emergencies.

Guidelines for Continuation of Child Care Subsidies and Services: OEC works in collaboration with

United Way of CT, the agency/vendor responsible for the implementation of Connecticut’s child care

subsidy plan (Care 4 Kids) to ensure that policy and procedures are in place to guide the continued

availability of subsidy funding during and/or after a disaster. United Way of CT is required to have a

preparedness plan to address:

o Continuation of subsidy payments;

o Extension of eligibility re-determination for families;

o Communication with the licensing agency to ensure licensed programs receiving CCDF

are safe and that there are options for families;

o Assisting new enrollees or preparation for an influx of families who may need

assistance;

o Implementation of a waiting list, as appropriate;

o Data on families receiving subsidies.

The United Way’s Disaster and High Availability plan includes provision for UPS power, system

virtualization, desktop virtualization and off-site backup and recovery systems to ensure that critical

aspects of their work can be delivered and data recovered to ensure critical resources are available to

those effected by emergencies and disasters. United Way hosted systems are backed up, and all

ImpaCT/DSS related systems are addressed in that organization’s disaster plan.

Temporary Operating Standards for Child Care: The need for temporary child care is determined in

partnership with DESPP/DEMHS based on the extent of a disaster. Temporary child care implemented

2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Information Memorandum, CCDF-ACF-IM-2017-01.

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during or after a disaster may require modifications to regulatory requirements in order to meet the

needs of families. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 28-9, the Governor may declare a civil

preparedness emergency, and waive or modify state statutes, regulations, or rules. Connecticut Child

Care Regulations, Sections 19a-87b(g) and 19a-79(d) authorize the Commissioner of the Office of Early

Childhood to waive certain child care regulations in times of emergency so that temporary care, or

licensed care that seeks to re-open post-disaster, may operate under extenuating circumstances.

Coordination of Post-Disaster Recovery of Child Care Services: Child care services must be restored as

quickly as possible after a disaster in order to support community recovery. The OEC is prepared to

work with partner state agencies to support the restoration of services through the re-building of

infrastructure, re-training of staff, and the establishment of healthy and safe environments for children.

Requirements for CCDF Providers and Other Child Care Providers: Connecticut’s child care regulations

require that licensed providers have emergency plans in place. The Office of Early Childhood provides

information regarding regulatory requirements, emergency planning and response, and tools for

providers on its website, https://www.ctoec.org/licensing/emergency-planning-and-response/.

Following the CCDF reauthorization requirements, CT is expanding child care licensing requirements to

address an all-hazards approach as recommended by emergency management experts. These

regulatory changes have been proposed and await legislative action.

Training on preparedness and response for child care providers is provided through the CEPC to support

implementation of best practices. The primary resources utilized in the training include Protecting

Children in Child Care During Emergencies Recommended State and National Regulatory and

Accreditation Standards for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers and Supporting Rationale3

and Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs4.

Recognizing that some disasters are more readily conceived as threats, including weather emergencies,

and that some disasters may be man-made and defy logic or imagination, this plan is an all-hazards plan,

addressing all types of emergencies. Further, it applies to all licensed providers in Connecticut including

home-based and center-based early childhood settings, and those who receive CCDF subsidy (Care 4

Kids). It offers a foundation from which to leverage planning and response activities, and a starting point

for collaboration with other emergency preparedness and response actions, both local and statewide.

3 Protecting Children in Child Care During Emergencies Recommended State and National Regulatory and Accreditation Standards for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers and Supporting Rationale. National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Save the Children, Domestic Emergencies Unit. 2010. Retrieved 4/10/2019. 4 Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs. US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. Updated 10/10/2018. Retrieved 4/10/2019.

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Assumptions

The Office of Early Childhood creates this plan employing the following assumptions:

Emergencies present themselves at all times and in many forms. The major threats for which child care

programs must be prepared to respond include severe weather and human-caused emergencies.

The OEC considers children especially vulnerable with regard to emergency planning and considers

preparation, planning, and practice essential to deploying a safe and effective response and mitigating

the effects of a disaster.

Child care services are essential in restoring the economic well-being of a community after a disaster

because the ability for parents to return to work depends on the availability of child care services.

Child care services licensed by the State of CT, and all other providers who receive CCDF subsidy (Care 4

Kids), are required to have an emergency plan in place and to practice that plan regularly so that they

are prepared to take appropriation actions to ensure children’s safety and reunification with their

families.

This plan serves as guidance to the Office of Early Childhood and providers of early childhood services

under a Governor-declared state of emergency.

This document serves as a supplement to ESF 5 Annex to the Connecticut State Response Framework

and addresses the needs of licensed child care settings and providers of care under the Care 4 Kids

subsidy system. This document also serves as a supplement to ESF 8 Annex to the Connecticut State

Response Framework, and is coordinated with the Department of Public Health’s public health

preparedness efforts, which include addressing the special health and healthcare needs of child

populations. However, this plan cannot address all the needs of a community or the state in continuing

or restoring child care services which operate in the context of communities.

Implementation of this plan may vary depending on the nature and extent of the incident for which it is

used.

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Coordination and Collaboration

The Office of Early Childhood’s responsibility as outlined in the State Response Framework is to

participate as a collaborative partner to ensure the objectives outlined in planning, response and

recovery are achieved. This coordination is most evident within Emergency Support Functions, where

the OEC has assigned support responsibilities in two working groups:

Emergency Support Function Scope

ESF 6: Mass Care Emergency assistance/sheltering/feeding Coordination with municipalities and American Red Cross Disaster housing, Human services, Functional needs

ESF 14: Disaster Recovery Social and economic community impact assessment Long term community recovery assistance to states, local governments, and the private sector Analysis and review of mitigation program implementation Mitigation Coordinate and implement the State Disaster Recovery Framework

Additionally, the Framework identifies the Child Emergency Preparedness Committee as an informant

group to Emergency Support Function 5, Emergency Management.

ESF 5: Emergency Management Coordination and implementation of the State Response Framework Coordination of incident management response efforts Coordination and implementation of mission assignments Unified command including, but not limited to, Incident Action Planning, multi-agency coordination, and situational awareness Coordination of Mutual Aid Resource and human capital Financial management

The Child Emergency Preparedness Committee’s interaction across agencies and with members

demonstrates the shared responsibility regarding planning and preparedness for children. The CEPC is

co-chaired by staff from DESPP/DEMHS and OEC, and includes representative members from all state

agencies with responsibility for children, federal agencies, state and local law enforcement,

municipalities, public schools, and providers of services for children. This Committee’s primary purpose

is to make recommendations to the Advisory Council and the Deputy Commissioner of DESPP/DEMHS

with regard to the development and implementation of statewide strategic planning and guidance

related to children in emergencies. The CEPC’s scope includes:

Identification and facilitation of emergency preparedness planning activities in settings serving

children;

Collaboration with national, state, and local emergency management organizations to share

ideas and strategies; and

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Identification of areas where members can work together to optimally address child crisis

preparedness needs.

Coordination with Collaborating entities

The Office of Early Childhood includes among its collaborating partners agencies and entities that

engage in similar and complimentary work, and have an interest in the health and safety of children and

the quality of care provided to children and families. As such, these agencies are partners in the

preparedness, response and recovery activities of the agency: United Way of CT, American Red Cross,

Connecticut Association for Education for Young Children (CTAEYC), School Readiness Councils, and

other OEC Contractors whose locations and functions present opportunities for coordination and

information sharing.

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Communication

Connecticut’s State Response Framework5 defines the organization, operational concepts,

responsibilities and procedures to accomplish Public Information requirements in the State of

Connecticut before, during, and after emergencies.

When the Governor of the State of Connecticut activates the State Emergency Operations Center, the

following activities take place as appropriate:

The SEOC may provide local officials with recommended protective actions for the public as well

as with other recommended actions appropriate to the emergency situation.

The SEOC may provide the public with recommended protective actions and other information

through the media.

DESPP/DEMHS may operate as the primary emergency public information agency for the SEOC,

working with the Office of the Governor and other local, state, or federal agencies as

appropriate.

Communications and coordination procedures between DESPP/DEMHS internal and external partners

before, during and after an emergency are dependent upon the situation status and may be scaled up or

down at the discretion of leadership at DESPP/DEMHS and/or the Office of the Governor, in

collaboration with the Governor’s Unified Command, which is made up of federal, state, and non-

governmental agencies key to a specific emergency. The involvement of state agencies is determined by

the nature of the emergency and those effected.

Communication with Providers

When child care providers are affected by an emergency, and specific communication to them is

necessary to enhance their awareness, health and safety, the Office of Early Childhood, working in

conjunction with United Way of CT, communicates with licensed centers and home-based providers,

and license-exempt recipients of subsidy, through 211’s mass messaging system, including providing

out-bound telephone communication and email. Through 211, child care facilities can receive

emergency communication to enhance their preparedness and response and/or providers can be polled

for damage assessment purposes or other needs.

Emergency and post-disaster communications from the local Emergency Management Director or local

law enforcement also serve as informants to child care providers. The State of CT and its municipalities

employ a mass emergency notification system, CT Alert, to facilitate emergency notifications to the

public. This system is available for use during an emergency and includes a specific distribution list for

licensed facilities (center and family homes) thereby providing a direct method of communication.

Individuals and businesses may learn more about how to participate in this system at

https://www.ctalert.gov/ctalert/site/default.asp. To ensure that information on licensed facilities is up

to date in the system, Public Act 18-172 requires the Office of Early Childhood to ensure that contact

information for all licensed child care is available for use by local law enforcement. Using 211 child care

to collect and maintain accurate contact information, each license holder’s business name, address,

primary and secondary telephone contact, and email are available to law enforcement and responders

5 State Response Framework, Version 4.0. September 16, 2019. Retrieved 4/10/19

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using the state’s mass notification system. The data can be used to map the locations of licensed

providers and/or to identify regions to which messaging is targeted. Confidentiality of this data is

ensured under Connecticut General Statute Sec. 28-28a. Provision of subscriber information: Permitted

purposes; agreement. Immunity from liability.

The OEC maintains a social media presence on popular platforms including Facebook and Twitter and is

prepared to utilize these platforms for the distribution of emergency information. Messages distributed

through these platforms may repeat information shared through the State Emergency Operation Center

(SEOC), The Department of Public Health or other state agencies as appropriate, or provide information

or instructions specific to the health and safety of children and or to child care license holders.

These communication systems support OEC’s ability to exercise its responsibility to child care providers

and to be prepared to collect information to channel disaster reports to the Administration for Children

and Families, Region 1 Office.

Communication with Families

As residents of Connecticut, families are exposed to the messages distributed by State officials in times

of emergency via various media sources. Families with children enrolled in child care programs have an

increased level of concern for their children’s safety with regard to emergencies that occur while

children are in care. To ensure that families receive communications as appropriate, licensing

regulations require providers to maintain current contact information for the parents/guardians of every

enrolled child. This enables child care providers to reach out to families through multiple means in

times of emergency.

Licensed providers may subscribe to an online application to facilitate communication including systems

such as Respond or Class Dojo.

Communication to the Office of Early Childhood

Recognizing that the OEC will build its awareness of the effect of emergencies and disasters on child care

by collecting information from the provider community, the OEC child care licensing staff may follow an

emergency protocol to reach out to licensed providers when appropriate and may collect data on

impact and needs of the child care community. Staff with responsibility for funded programs have

contact lists with multiple ways to reach providers. In addition, local damage assessments are conducted

by local emergency management personnel and channeled to DEMHS.

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Family Assistance and Reunification

The licensed early childhood program or provider is responsible for the health and safety of each child

until the child is returned to the custody of the parent or guardian. If the parent or guardian (or other

designated adults) cannot be located or if the child’s custody is unclear, local law enforcement and the

CT Department of Children and Families provide guidance and/or temporary custody. In the event that

a child’s custody is unclear or when multiple persons seek to claim a child, all information will be turned

over to the CT Department of Children and Families or Law Enforcement for their investigation and

determination of custody. Long-term care plans, if needed, will be created under the guidance of the CT

Department of Children and Families (DCF).

In circumstances where an entire early childhood facility, community or larger geographic area is

impacted, reunification may be supported using the statewide communication systems available

through 211 and/ or the local or State Emergency Operations Center. Coordination of reunification on

this larger scale is performed under ESF 6 Mass Care. During other unforeseeable mass casualty or mass

fatality events, at the request of OEC or DESPP/DEMHS, the DPH in concert with local public health may

activate a regional family assistance center to support OEC’s efforts to connect families displaced by

such events. Various state agencies and non-governmental organizations, both statewide and local, may

assist with the re-unification process, including ESF 6 Mass Care partners such as the Red Cross, United

Way 211, DESPP/DEMHS, DPH, and CT DCF. Coordination for family assistance may also include shelter

services, law enforcement and other partners.

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Long and Short Term Recovery

The State maintains a State Disaster Recovery Framework, to address the concept of operations and

lines of coordination for both short- and long-term recovery activities. Short-term recovery activities

begin during the response phase and focus on the immediate needs of individuals and communities.

Long-term recovery activities focus on meeting the un-met needs of individuals and on returning

communities to pre-disaster conditions.

Connecticut views child care as an essential service to the recovery process. To restore communities

and to help them thrive, consistent, high quality child care must be in place. The Office of Early

Childhood is prepared to support recovery needs in licensed facilities by applying its tools and resources

in post-disaster situations, informed by communication with and between unified command, emergency

support functions, and the child care community.

Child Care recovery needs are identified through post-disaster damage assessment processes in place

through the State Response Framework. To support the efficient collection of information, the OEC

would first engage in the State Emergency Operations Center to learn of damage reports as collected by

local Emergency Management Directors. Should more child care specific information need to be

gathered communication systems available to the Office of Early Childhood through its own staff or

partner agency United Way of CT may be implemented. The Office of Early Childhood will use out-

bound messaging through CT Alert or United Way of CT as well as data collection through its child care

licensing staff to gather and maintain data on recovery needs as described in the communication section

of this manual.

The OEC Child Care Licensing Division can support community recovery by expediting licensing

applications/changes and the processing of corrective action plans to enable child care providers to

open as soon as possible after a disaster.

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Temporary Child Care Services

CT General Statutes sections 19a-87b(g) and 19a-79(d) authorize the Commissioner of the Office of Early

Childhood to waive certain child care regulations in times of emergency so that temporary care, or

licensed care that seeks to re-open post-disaster, may operate under extenuating circumstances. This

provides the opportunity to allow licensed facilities to operate under otherwise prohibitive

circumstances in order to advance the recovery process.

When the Office of Early Childhood deliberates the waiving of regulations, consideration is given to the impact of the waiver on conditions including but not limited to:

o children’s health and safety; o staff’s health and safety;

o economy;

o recovery process;

o timeframe for which the regulation is waived; or benchmark at which point the waiver

will be reviewed.

It is also possible that temporary child care can be delivered in shelters or other temporary locations. To

deliver such care, the Red Cross is prepared to support shelter-based temporary care using child safety

kits, sufficiently supplied to establish care settings for up to 25 children per location. These five kits,

developed with guidance from Save The Children and stored at the Red Cross in Farmington, CT contain

supplies to establish temporary child care space including arts and crafts materials, toys for a variety of

ages and materials to ensure appropriate safety and accountability for children.

In circumstances that necessitate closure of or that have devastated child care services in an area, a plan

to return child care services as quickly as possible will be prepared in collaboration with local and state

partners. Such a plan would include:

Identification of the impacted families

o Age and number of children

o Hours and days care is needed

o Subsidy status (Care 4 Kids certificate or OEC funded space)

Scan of available child care in the area utilizing United Way of CT

o Offer of care options to families

Scan of available community space to use as temporary location

Identification of partner agency(ies) to operate temporary care such as non-governmental

organizations, faith based organizations, and/or local agencies or municipalities.

Assignment of licensing specialist(s) to support rapid licensure for operation

o Advancement of review and approval processes to expedite licensure

o Identification of regulations to be considered for waiver by the Commissioner/Governor

Licensure of new space to accommodate families in need.

Technical assistance to address the health, safety and development of children and families.

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Resources for Providers

Recognizing that all emergencies begin and end at the local level, early childhood providers are

encouraged to reach out to their local Emergency Management Director to ensure that their emergency

plans align with the expectations and requirements of the local community. The resources listed below

offer an array of content to guide planning, response and mitigation.

The State of CT makes resources available to early childhood providers to support their preparedness

efforts, including:

Office of Early Childhood Division of Child Care Licensing, Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response resources https://www.ct.gov/oec/cwp/view.asp?a=4542&q=545156 Resources from OEC provide guidance in preparation, response and recovery and include regulatory guidance and tools including Emergency Care Guidelines in English and Spanish that provide procedures for shelter in place, evacuation, and lock down. Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Child Emergency Preparedness Resources https://portal.ct.gov/DEMHS/Emergency-Management/Resources-For-Officials/Child-Emergency-Preparedness--Resource-Page This curated site provides resources for planning in settings where children are served, special populations, behavioral health and emotional support for children and families, and active shooter / intruder preparedness. Child Emergency Preparedness Committee Training A committee of the DESPP/DEMHS Advisory Council, the Child Emergency Preparedness Committee (CEPC) offers training and support to organizations serving children. For more information contact the OEC Quality Improvement Division at 860-500-4428. These national resources may be useful to planning and response efforts. FEMA https://www.fema.gov/children-and-disasters The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed resources and online training to

assist child care providers in their responsibilities to protect the health and safety of children during

emergencies.

Head Start Early Childhood Knowledge and Learning Center https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ This site offers a wealth of information for early childhood providers on social and emotional supports for children and adults, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery resources for families and programs.

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References

This plan was prepared using the following resources:

CT State Response Framework, Version 4.0, September 2014. CT State Disaster Recovery Framework and ESF 14, July 2018. Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs. US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. Updated 10/10/2018. Retrieved 4/10/2019. Pennsylvania Statewide Child Care Emergency Plan, June 30, 2016. Protecting Children in Child Care During Emergencies Recommended State and National Regulatory and Accreditation Standards for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers and Supporting Rationale. National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Save the Children, Domestic Emergencies Unit. 2010. Retrieved 4/10/2019. Rhode Island Child Care Emergency Preparedness Plan 2018. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Information Memorandum, CCDF-ACF-IM-2017-01.

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This manual was prepared by a working group of collaborators and providers. We thank them for their

contributions of time and expertise which contributed greatly to this document. Thanks to:

Victoria Barnes RN, BSN, EMT, Program Coordinator, CT EMS for Children

Laura Dunleavy Education Consultant, Division of Early Care and Education, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Mary Emerling RN, MPA, Middletown School Health Supervisor

John Field Region 5 Coordinator, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Deborah Flis Division of Quality Improvement, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Peggy Freidenfelt Child Care Licensing Supervisor, Division of Licensing, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

William Gerrish M.B.A., Health Program Supervisor, Public Health Preparedness and Response, Connecticut Department of Public Health

Judy Goldberg QRIS Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, United Way of Connecticut

Thomas Lenart Emergency Management Program Specialist, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Scott Newgass MSW, LCSW, Education Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education

Henry Paszczuk Emergency Management Program Specialist, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services

Doug Pesce Protective Security Advisory, Connecticut District, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Francesca Provenzano

MPH, CHES, REHS/RS, Public Health Section Chief, Public Health Preparedness and Local Health Section, Connecticut Department of Public Health

Karen Rainville M. Ed., School Readiness Liaison, Waterbury Public Schools

Edie Reichard Director, Sleeping Giant Day Care, Hamden, CT

Adam Rinko City of Waterbury Fire Department

William Turley MS, AEM, Region 3 Coordinator, School Safety Program Lead, Connecticut Division, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

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Kendra Veazey Childcare Learning Centers, Stamford, CT

Eileen Ward Director, Children's Community Development Center, Westport, CT